James Franklin apologizes for calling Alabama coach 'Nicky Satan'

4:12 PM,
Jan. 30, 2013

Written by

Jeff Lockridge
The Tennessean

Vanderbilt football coach James Franklin said he phoned Alabama's Nick Saban on Wednesday to apologize for referring to the four-time national championship coach as "Nicky Satan."

Franklin, who made the reference Monday at a Macon (Ga.) Central High sports banquet, said it was meant strictly as a joke. Video of the speech has gone viral.

"Obviously, tremendous respect for Coach Saban," Franklin said. "I just got off the phone with him. Tremendous respect for them. I've got tremendous respect for what they've done. Everybody is chasing them. The guy has won three or four national ...